Throughout LRI'S website – the following terms are used interchangeably: Workforce readiness skills, workplace success skills, soft skills, employability skills, interpersonal skills, workplace behaviors, behavioral competencies, social skills, career readiness skills and behavioral effectiveness skills. Skills and competencies are also used as synonyms.

Credentialing and Certifying Soft Skills Competencies

LRI believes that certificates can and should evolve in ways that demonstrable improve services to both employers and individuals. If work-ready means that an individual has the specific soft, academic and technical skills that a job requires, then certificates should address all three skill sets. LRI is eager to work with education, training and assessment organizations that share this view.

A basic approach to credentialing the skills that employers/work requires is described in No-Gaps Credentialing. It provides a framework for the items listed below.

The most basic outcome of a soft skills assessment is a Feedback Report, which can be customized by partnering local, regional or state agencies to include a certificate that lists the individual’s effective soft skills. This kind of credential has been provided to:

The Southeast Wisconsin Alliance, as part of their WIRED Grant from the US Department of Labor

LRI and CASAS are committed to supporting the establishment of valid documentation of people’s knowledge, skills and abilities across soft, academic and technical skills. This supports employers – who learn more about applicants – and individuals – who gain a competitive advantage when interviewing.